Can Robert Mugabe be toppled by protests?
  By Tichaona Sibanda
 18 October 2006

Can you imagine these scenes happening in Harare; opposition demonstrators pushing past riot police and heavily armed presidential guards and taking over both State House and Zimbabwe House.
Regime leader Robert Mugabe dropping out of sight and state media reporting that he has fled to the far east.

These are scenes reminiscent of revolts following street uprisings in three former Russian republics, first in Kyrgyzstan, then the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, and last but not least the Rose Revolution in Georgia.

Taking it’s cue from these revolts, the Central Intelligence Organisation apparently believes that Zimbabweans are readier than ever before to overthrow Mugabe.

All they need, according to the spooks, is a ‘united and brave’ opposition to lead a popular revolt. A document from the CIO containing this assessment has been leaked to ZimOnline, having been presented to Mugabe.

Mutare north MDC legislator Giles Mutsekwa said every week the commanders of the army, airforce, police, CIO and prison services meet with Mugabe for a Joint Operations Command update. Commenting on the chances of a revolt in the country Mutsekwa said; ‘Yes, why not, it has been done before elsewhere and can also be done to him.
The fact that such a report can be leaked to the media is clear testimony that even his backers are fed up with him. This report would not have found its way to Mugabe two years ago, but because of the meltdown in the country the security forces want him to be in the picture of what is happening, in the hope he steps down,’ Mutsekwa said.

The leaked document is a 15-page memorandum, allegedly handed to Mugabe last Friday. The report is said to contain information claiming that some members of the security forces could not be counted on in the event of a mass uprising and that these individuals believe only Mugabe’s death will see the end to Zimbabwe’s problems.

Hebson Makuvise, the MDC chief representative in London, said in his opinion all Zimbabweans, including all members of the security forces, are fed up with Mugabe to the extent that they would join the masses in a popular revolt.

‘When people say Zimbabweans will revolt against Mugabe, its not only civilians who will do that but soldiers, policemen and CIO’s. They have family like everyone else and are Zimbabweans first before their professions,’ Makuvise said.

Zimonline also reports that government, in an effort to ensure there is no mass action, has drawn up a list of 55 leaders from civic society and political organisations. These people have been put under constant surveillance to ensure they are never in a position to mobilise Zimbabweans.